Two New Names on Dave Little’s 2025 Road to the Meadowlands Pace Week 7
Thursday, June 12, 2025
There are two new names on Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace poll as Joel And The Jets and Madden Oaks find themselves as Nos. 6 and 7, respectively, in the seventh edition of the weekly Top 10 off good performances in the eliminations for the North America Cup, which takes place Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
ROAD TO THE MEADOWLANDS PACE
Week 7 (of 10) – Thursday, June 12
The Meadowlands Pace is on Saturday, July 12, 2025
| Rank | Horse
(Earnings – Mark) |
Driver, Trainer
Owner(s) |
Dave Little’s (and trainer’s) Comments |
| 1 |
Louprint($817,071 – 1:48.4)
|
R. Wrenn Jr., R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phillip Collura, Lawrence R. Karr |
Louprint did what Louprint do: Win. Held sway to the wire in his North America Cup elimination after Wrenn decided once again not to pull plugs. Drew post 4 in Saturday night’s final. What’s up with Wrenn not pulling plugs? Burke: “I think he’s trying to save as much as he can for the big races. He’s trying to win races with the least amount of effort. I think you only get so many times that [pulling plugs] works. If you watch the pace-out [just after the finish line, Prince Hal Hanover] never did clear us.”
Breeding: Sweet Lou-Rockin RacerLast Race: 6/7/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 1st (1:49.1) |
| 2 |
Captain Optimistic($483,160 – 1:49) |
D. Dunn, N. Takter3 Brothers Stables,Marvin Katz,Caviart Farms |
In my eyes, the best-looking winner from the three elims. Came first-up and just kept on going through the stretch. Takter: “I’m very happy with his gutsy effort in the elimination. He came out of the race super and I think his post [6] gives Dex lots of options, so I’m happy going into the final.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-CinamonyLast Race: 6/7/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 1st (1:50.2) |
| 3 |
Prince Hal Hanover($350,924 – 1:49.3) |
D. Miller, Dr. I. MoorePrince Hal Hanover Stable |
Used an explosive late burst of speed to miss a head to Louprint in a marvelous effort. (Post 9) Moore: “I think the training he got had him ready. Had he been in a different spot at the head of the stretch, maybe he wins. I think he’ll give a good accounting of himself Saturday night.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Percy BluechipLast Race: 6/7/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 2nd (1:49.1) |
| 4 |
Fallout($586,300 – 1:48.4) |
T. Tetrick, T. AlagnaRobert J. LeBlanc,Pryde Stables Inc,Caviart Farms |
A tough-trip fourth in his elim. Still had a chance to get into the final, but Pace ineligible Fast Choice [Post 1] won the draw of the three fourth-place finishers. So, what’s the plan from here? Alagna: “The horse raced great, but he went a bad trip. He came out of the race great. We’re back in New Jersey now and we’ll get him ready for the Pace. The fact that we aren’t racing this week we’ll use to our advantage. We’ll use it to freshen our horse up and look for a race or qualifier or both before the Pace.”
Breeding: Captaintreacherous-Aria HanoverLast Race: 6/7/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 4th (1:49.2) |
| 5 |
Manolete($307,243 – 1:50.3) |
S. Zeron, B. SaundersM and L of Delaware LLC,M & M Harness Racing LLC |
Took the week off. Saunders: “Everything is on schedule. We are hoping to qualify Friday at Yonkers, but because all of the drivers will be away, I may have Scott train him there [thursday].” He will now be using Lasix.
Breeding: Cattlewash-GlancewithmeLast Race: 5/24/2025 – M1 – NJSS Final – 2nd (1:50.3) |
| 6 |
Joel And The Jets($66,446 – 1:51.3) |
D. McNair, Dr. I. MooreJoel and the Jets Stable |
Finished a good-looking second to Captain Optimistic. (Post 3) Moore: “He’s overcome some [physical] adversity and garnered my respect the other night, for sure. I don’t think he’s quite the caliber of Prince Hal Hanover, but I jogged them both [Tuesday] morning and Joel was feeling real good.”
Breeding: Stay Hungry-Betty And The JetsLast Race: 6/7/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 2nd (1:50.3) |
| 7 |
Madden Oaks($34,307 – 1:51.3) |
B. Boyd, C. CaponeSamir A. Tawil,Paul V. Kautz,Alexander P. Henn,Nathan J. Fullmer |
Braxten Boyd gambled and won, making a monstrous move down the backstretch leading to a third-place finish. (post 10) Capone: “He’s rounding into form right now. We have taken it slow with him. We only qualified him once. The Somebeachsomewhere is the first time I felt like I had him in shape. The other night was the first night he went a big mile. It’s kind of unexplainable, I guess. We only bought one horse the whole sale and he has made it this far.”
Breeding: Huntsville-Hard EightLast Race: 6/7/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 3rd (1:49.1) |
| 8 |
Papi’s Rocket($320,601 – 1:50.4) |
Y. Gingras, R. BurkeBurke Racing Stable LLC,Weaver Bruscemi LLC,Knox Services Inc,Slaughter Racing Stable LLC |
Took the week off. Burke: “We’re heading to the Messenger. I think the best colts are not going there. As far as The Pace, he would have to go backwards to not go. We’ll try to get him a little bit more aggressive.”
Breeding: Papi Rob Hanover-Real TouchLast Race: 5/25/2025 – Phl – PaSS – 3rd (1:50.1) |
| 9
|
Making History($42,500 – 1:52.1) |
B. Beckwith, T. AlagnaRiverview Racing LLC |
It wasn’t his night in Ontario. Finished fifth before being taken down to last. So, where are we? Alagna: “I thought the DQ started toward the front of the field, with horses getting jammed up on the front end causing the disturbance. He came out of the race fine. I’m very happy how he got through the turns up there.”
Breeding: American History-Mystery GameLast Race: 6/7/2025 – Wbsb – North America Cup elimination – 7th (1:50.3) |
| 10 |
Fusion($116,322 – 1:50.4) |
T. McCarthy, B. PellingDiamond Creek Racing |
Took the week off. Pelling: “I entered him last week [at The Meadowlands] but couldn’t get a race. My gamble is, I just don’t know if there will be a race next week. I’m thinking of taking him to Pocono next Saturday and then cross my fingers [to get a race] the week before the Pace eliminations. It’s not ideal. he’s really doing well, but I do need to race.”
Breeding: Always B Miki-Pure CountryLast Race: 5/25/2025 – Phl – TSS – 1st (1:51.2) |
MEADOWLANDS PACE ELIGIBLES IN CAPS – Supplements are permitted per the conditions of the race
| Date | Stakes | Site | Winner | Trainer | Driver | 2nd Horse | 3rd Horse | Time |
| 5/3
|
PaSS | Mea | Twisted Destiny
LOUPRINT Go Go Grasshopper |
C. Ryder
R. Burke J. Bongiorno |
D. Dunn
R. Wrenn Jr. D. Palone |
Railroad Station
Dreamboat Hanover PAPI’S ROCKET |
PRINCE HAL HANOVER
WILD BILL WYATT Shipmaster |
1:49.1
1:49.3 1:50 |
| 5/3
|
NJSS | M1 | MAKING HISTORY
Smooth Dream |
T. Alagna
N. Daley |
B. Beckwith
T. McCarthy |
MANOLETE
Twin Fury |
Expedited Service
TOM HORN |
1:52.1
1:49.3 |
| 5/10 | Pa All-Stars | PcD | Beach Club Monty
Lou’s Starr Snack Attack Railroad Station Makes Sense |
B. Pelling
S. Warnick J. Bongiorno R. Burke R. Cleary |
S. Zeron
M. Kakaley J. Bartlett Y. Gingras A. McCarthy |
Shipmaster
WAFFLE BLUE CHIP PAPI’S ROCKET Odds On No Limit Bulldozer |
SEAWORTHY HANOVER
Wedlock Blue Chip Delray Beach Federer Dreamboat Hanover |
1:51.2
1:51.2 1:51.1 1:50.4 1:51.4 |
| 5/10 | NJSS | M1 | MANOLETE
Smooth Dream |
B. Saunders
N. Daley |
S. Zeron
T. McCarthy |
Odds On Broward
Twin Fury |
Expedited Service
MAKING HISTORY |
1:50.3
1:50.4 |
| 5/17
|
PaSS
|
PcD | LOUPRINT
Wedlock Blue Chip PRINCE HAL HANOVER |
R. Burke
R. Mallar Dr. I. Moore |
R. Wrenn
D. Miller D. Miller |
Twisted Destiny
PAPI’S ROCKET Railroad Station |
Th Kay C Crunch
Shipmaster Lou’s Starr |
1:50.2
1:51.3 1:49.3 |
| 5/24 | NJSS final | M1 | Smooth Dream | N. Daley | T. McCarthy | MANOLETE | MAKING HISTORY | 1:50.3 |
| 5/24 | OnSS Gold
|
Wbsb | Sterling Choice
Control Rocks |
B. MacIntosh
J. Darling |
B. Davis Jr.
T. Borth |
SET SHOT
Tip Of Time |
Aquinas Hanover
Fifth And Five |
1:50.4
1:50.1 |
| 5/25
|
PaSS
|
Phl | Twisted Destiny
Wedlock Blue Chip LOUPRINT |
C. Ryder
R. Mallar R. Burke |
T. McCarthy
D. Miller R. Wrenn Jr. |
CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC
Railroad Station FALLOUT |
PAPI’S ROCKET
Charge Me Up Go Go Grasshopper |
1:49.4
1:50.3 1:50.2 |
| 5/31
|
Somebchsomewhere | Wbsb | PRINCE HAL HANOVER
Bourbon Country |
Dr. I. Moore
P. Reid |
D. McNair
T. Henry |
Ayeaye Captain Deo
Lite Up The World |
MADDEN OAKS
Courts On Fire |
1:49.4
1:50.1 |
| 6/7
|
N.A. Cup elims | Wbsb | CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC
Lite Up The World LOUPRINT |
N. Takter
A. Beaton R. Burke |
D. Dunn
J. MacDonald R. Wrenn Jr. |
JOEL AND THE JETS
Crack Shot PRINCE HAL HANOVER |
Swingtown
MADDEN OAKS Dandy Ideal |
1:50.2
1:48.3 1:49.1 |
| 6/14 | N.A. Cup final | Wbsb | ||||||
| 6/20 | Messenger elims | YR | ||||||
| 6/27 | Messenger final | YR | ||||||
| 6/28 | OnSS Gold | Wbsb | ||||||
| 7/5 | Meadowlands Pace elims | M1 | ||||||
| 7/12 | Meadowlands Pace final | M1 |
Track Conditions
Updated
06/14/2025
Fast
Variant:
66°F